June 19, 2002	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 7, 1423

SRINAGAR, June 18: The Hizbul Mujahideen has put up posters warning Kashmiris in no uncertain terms against taking part in rallies for the election Indian authorities plan later this year in occupied Kashmir.

Residents living in the districts of Pulwama and Anantnag said posters have appeared in public places reading “Hizbul urges the people of Kashmir not to take part in any political rallies”.

“The Mujahideen have vowed to disrupt such rallies and severely punish the participants,” said the posters, printed in Urdu.

“We further want to clarify that elections or selections are no substitute to freedom,” they added, “nor will we allow anyone to build his palace over the bodies of thousands of martyrs.”

One such poster was recovered from a Hizb fighter slain in an encounter with Indian paramilitary forces on Tuesday near Pulwama, a highway township 40kms south of Srinagar.

The held state’s government is due to hold assembly elections by mid-October.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference has already decided to boycott the polls, and Hizb has threatened anyone casting their vote of “dire consequences”.—AFP